Yesterday was my last day of ministry here in Thailand. The close to one of my best months yet. What made it so good? Our hosts.
My teammate Sara and I with Golf, Benz, and their 4 kids
I told you a little bit about Benz and Golf last week, now let me tell you more. These two are a fantastic example to other believers. Over the past 3 weeks I have observed time and time again the way that they allow the Holy Spirit to lead them in all areas of their lives. The very first day we met Benz and Golf I caught a glimpse of Benz’s relationship and communication with God as she explained different aspects of their ministry and how we would partner with them.
This month my team and I taught English workshops at A-mane English Center, Benz and Golf’s business and mission field. Most of these workshops consisted of us teaching kids new English vocab to kids through Bible stories, verses, and concepts. Following this part of the workshop we would lead the kids in making a craft related to the lesson of of the day.
Then there was another workshop held once a week. A workshop God told Benz to schedule before she knew anything about our team. A workshop specifically for me.
When Benz and Golf learned they would be hosting a World Race team for the month of October, they started praying. They prayed that God would guide our time with them and the ministry we would do. They asked God for direction as they planned the workshops we would be leading. And God responded by putting it it on Benz’s heart to have a sewing workshop.
She responded by telling God she didn’t think that would work. Sewing is apparently not a very common skill and she was pretty sure my team would not be on bored to lead a sewing workshop. She didn’t even know if any of us knew how to sew!
But God was persistent, and told her to schedule the sewing workshop. So, she penciled it into our schedule, knowing she could remove it if no one on my team knew how to sew. Then, less than 2 weeks before my team was set too arrive in Thailand, she got an e-mail from my team leader.
In this email my team leader introduced our team to Benz and Golf and told them a little bit about each of us. In this email she said that I was a seamstress. When Benz realized that there was actually someone on my team who knew how to sew, and could teach others how to, she was amazed. That sewing workshop went from “penciled in” to a sure thing. Thus, once a week during our time here I got to lead a sewing workshop where I taught upper-elementary school girls how to hand sew and we made fun stuffed birds!
Benz told me about the sewing workshop and how it came to be on our first day here. I was amazed and thanked God for giving me a ministry that lined up with my interests and talents so well. But more than that I thanked Him for giving us Benz and Golf to us as ministry hosts. All month they have blessed us and been incredibly welcoming. They have prayed for us, prayed with us, and helped us find ways to use our skills and talents in ministry, rather than just giving us “one size fits all” assignments. They’ve showed us around town, taken us to the market, worked out a deal for us to stay in a hotel that would otherwise be outside our World Race budget, and cooked at least one meal a week for us. They keep a bucket of ice-cream in the freezer at A-mane so that we can have a yummy snack in between workshops without having to go buy food at 7-11.
They have experienced God’s love and provision firsthand, and because of that they are able to love others in a way I have never before experienced from a virtual stranger. The truth is, even though we’d never met until this month, Benz and Golf have never been strangers to my team and I. We are all followers of Jesus, and that makes us family.
A strong relationship with God, and the way they allow that to permeate their lives and interactions with others is what makes Benz and Golf such great hosts. And that is what has made this month so great.
